Flushing system.



No. 649,928. Patented May 22, IQDG. R. F. GILLIN.

FLUSHIWG SYSTEM.

(Application lad June 5, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

ullll.:

iillan-l j 3 ROBERT F. GILLIN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

FLUSl-llNG SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 649,928, dated May 22,1900.v Application tiled J'une 5, 1899. Serial No. 719,372. (No model.)

'T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. GiLLIN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in thev county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Flushing Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates more particular] f to flushing-tanks and theirconnections as applied to water-closets, and will be so described.

The object is to provide means whereby a less volume of water will berequired and the downward rush accelerated by air-pressure and toproduce a flushing system that may be easily and quickly installedwithout especially-skilled labor or exceptional conditions.

It consists of a closed tank having a discharge-pipe extending downwardto the closet and equipped with a self-closing valve, which when forcedinward will allow the water to escape to the bowl and perform itscleansing functions, as usual. A small chamber forming part of theclosed tank is mounted on top of the latter and incloses anextremely-sensitive air-inlet valve held normally closed, and when openallowing communication Jfrom the external air to the interior of thechamber to insure rapid emptying under all conditions. The airpassageleads to a point below the self-closing valve, so that any leakage ofwater past the air-valve will be led to the closet. The su pply-pi pe isintroduced at the casing of the self-closing valve, so that but oneopening is necessaryin the tank for both supply and delivery. The closedtank will ordinarily contain a volume of air imprisoned above the waterand at a pressure the same as that of the water-service, and on openingthe discharge-valve the water will rush downward with great force, duetothe air-pressure, and effectually flush the closet; but when left idlefor long periods the imprisoned air will escape through unavoidableleaks and absorption by the water until the tank is coinpletely full andthe air-valve drowned. It is the function of the air-valve when theapparatus is thus conditioned to allow air to enter when thedischarge-valve is opened. By inclosing it in the small chamber abovethe body of the tank the escape of but a small quanti ty of water tlirough the large discharge pipe will free the air-valve and allow it toquickly open and supply the required air. Thus the tank will emptyimmediately by gravity, but without the rush attained when the apparatusis working normally, as it will if used with sutlicient frequency.

The invention also consists in certain deAAA tails of construction andarrangements of parts to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specitication and show theinvention as I have carried it out.

Figure l is a front elevation of the apparan tus, on a small scale,complete and equipped to be operated by a hand-lever conveniently placednear the closet. Fig. 2 is on a much larger scale and shows a verticalsection through the tank and air-valve and the discharge-valve and itsimmediately-adjacent parts equipped to be operated by a chain and pull.Fig. 3 is a vertical section throughthe air-valve on the line 3 3 inFig. 2 and taken at a right angle to the latter figure. Fig. tisasectionon theline4E 'it in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is apartial section and elevationshowing a modified form of the discharge-Valve.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A is an elevated tank or reservoir located above the closet M andconnected, as usual, to the latter by the large discharge-pipe A2,through which the contents of the tank are delivered when required. Thetank is closed and all joints sealed to make it as nearly air and watertight as possible and is provided with a small dome or chamber A',screwed or otherwise tightly secured to the upper face, and thus formingan extension of the tank.

B is the discharge-valve casing, which may be located immediately belowthe tank, as shown in Fig. 2, and its valve operated by a chain andpull, or at any convenient point in the discharge-pipe nearer thecloset, as shown in Fig. l, to be operated by a hand-lever. The generalconstruction is the same in each, and consists of a disk valve BQmounted on a horizontally-moving stem B2, guided in the tube at one endand at the other in an extension B4, equipped with a suitablestuffingbox B5, through which its end protrudes to be acted upon by thelever B( in'opposition to a strong helical spring B7, encircling the IOOopposite endand tending to force the valve to its seat Bv8 on thediaphragm B9, forming a vertical partition in the valve-casing. When thelever B6 is released, the spring B7 seats the valve, aided by thepressure of water above, and shuts off the flow to the closet. Aset-screw B10, tapped into the outer end of the tube B3 in line with thestem, limits the throw of the valve and determines the amount ofopening. The tube B3 is part of an independent casting C, screwed intoand forming, in effect,'a portion of the casing B. It is provided with acheck-valve C in the vertical passage Czand is screw-threaded below toreceive a coupling C? from the water-supply pipe C4. ,'W'ater enteringthrough the pipe lifts theeheck-valve and passes into the cas- 1 ing Bon the upper or supply side of the diaphrag'm and valve B', and thenceupward to the tankfabove, either directly or through the delivery pipe,compressing the air in the tank until the pressure equals its own. Ifwhen thus conditioned the lever B6 be moved to open the valve B', thewaterin the tank rushes downward to the closet by gravity, increased invelocity by the expansion of ,the confined air, and performs the iushingoperation, as will be understood.

To insure rapid emptying when the tank and chamber are completely lled,as they may be under certain conditions, means are provided foradmitting air above.

D is an air-passage formed by corin g or otherwise inthe casing B andleading outwardly above the diaphragm B9, through the semicircularportion D' 'around the valve- Stem, to the open air at D2, below withinan open recess or cup D3, from which extends'a lateral passage D4,closed by a delicatelyhung check-valve D5, leading to a trap D6, andthence again downward inside the casing B to discharge into thedelivery-pipe. The upper end of the passage D is tapped to receive apipe E', leading upward within the Valve-casing and tank, thus avoidingthe necessity for an independent opening, to the casy ing E of anair-valve located as high as may be within the chamber A', surmountingthe tank. The valve proper consists of a conical disk Ecarried on ahorizontally-moving stem E3, having guides E4 and E5and provided with anoffset or return-bend E6, partially inclosing a weight E7, swinging froma point E8 above within the casing and tending by its gravity to lightlyforce the disk to its seat E9. The guide E4 is in a perforated oropen-work cap E10 on the delivery side of the valve and allows the airto flow freely to the interior of the chamber and tank when the valve isopen.

yVihen, through long standing unused or by leakage past the valve E2 thetank and chamber are completely iilled with water and the valve isdrowned, the delivery-valve is opened, the water in the tank andvalve-casing yB en the supply side will tend momentarily to hang back,because of the air-pressure below; but on account of the large passagesVin the i eA2 and valve-o eninff a ortion of D l) a P e,

the water immediately passes the val ve, and, as the chamber A isrelatively small, frees the upper portion around the air-valve and thelatter immediately opens to supply the partial vacuumV through theair-passages, above described, leading from the cup D3, and the contentsof the tank ilow freely downward through the pipe A2, as before, butunder the force of gravity alone, without the rush due to theair-pressure. On closing the valve B the apparatus is conditioned to actas first described.

Any leakage past the valve E2 trickles down the pipe E to theair-passage D and thence to the cup D3, where it accumulates until itspressure is sufficient to open the delicate check-valve D5 and it iowsto the trap D( and finally passes harmlessly to the closet.

The function of the check-valve D5 is to prevent any escape backward dueto the Violent rush when the compressed air asserts itself and sometimesforces a portion of the water through the trap D and thence out into theroom. This backing up may be avoided by adjusting the screw B10 to limitthe size of the valve-opening and choke theow past the valve, and ispreferably so regulated when the pressure from the street main is'approximately constant. The trap D6 is intended to seal the pipe A2 andprevent any escape of odors therein to the air in the room.

The check-valve C in the supply-passage C2 serves to prevent the escapeof the contents of the tank by any diminution in pressure in theservice-pipe due to the opening of faucets on lower floors and similartemporary disturbances.

The several parts constituting the discharge and air valves are soconstructed as to be easily and accurately assembled and with as fewjoints as practicable. The apparatus is self-contained and may beinstalled without great labor or careful adjustment, so that great skilland experience are not essential in placing it in position andsuccessful operation.

It will be observed that water from the service-pipe C4 may flow pastthe valve B' IOO IIO

when the latter is open directly to the closet,

and such flow will continue as long as desired until the valve B/ isallowed to close. The air in the upper portion of the tank A serves as acushion to preventany hammering, and as the supply enters the tank at alow point there is an entire absence of noise in this portion of theapparatus. The check-valve D5 also aids in reducing or preventingobjectionable noise by quickly opening and supplying air-pressure abovethe column of water left in the discharge-pipe below the valve B' whenthe latter is closed, and thus allowing the water to flow rapidly andquietly to the closet without the noise due to displacement of the waterby air entering from below.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within widelimits without de-V parting from the principle of the invention orsacrificing its advantages.

The passage leading to the air-valve may be outside the delivery-pipe A2and its connections. Fig. showsan arrangement adapted for suchconstruction. The pipe E11 opens directly into the valve-casing B belowthe diaphragm and passing through the bottom of the tank leads to theair-valve, (not shown, but which may be in all respects similar to thatin Figs. 2 and 3,) or the same pipe may be carried up outside the tankand connected to the air-valve through the side or top of the chamber A.In either case the cup D3 and the air-passages in the casing B may beomitted, the air required being drawn from the pipe A2 at its openjunction with the closet. The same effect may be produced by continuingthe air-passage D2 directly inward to the interior of the casing B.

The water supply may enter the tank through an independent pipe tappedthrough the bottom or other low point. In such case the passages in thecasting C may be dispensed with and a check-valve introduced at anyconvenient point in the pipe. Such construction will serve well, butnecessitates an additional opening in the tank, to be avoided ifpossible. l prefer the construction and arrangement. shown in Figs. land 2.

l claiml. In an apparatus of the character herein described, an elevatedclosed tank, a chamber of relatively-small capacity located above saidtank and forming part thereof, in combination with a discharge-pipe anda selfseating controlling-valve therein, a watersupply pipe entering`said discharge pipe above said valve, an air-supply valve located insaid chamber and adapted to prevent the escape of water and permitair toenter when required, an air supply pipe extending through said tank anddischarge-pipe in communication with the external air and said airvalve,a stem for said valve with offset, a swinging weight engaged in saidoffset, and means for conveying; any water leaking past the airvalvethrough said air-pipe to the said discharge-pipe below saidcontrolling-valve, all substantially as herein specified.

2. The air-valve consisting of the casing E, the disk E2 and its seatE9, the stem E2, the offset E6 in the latter and the swinging weight E7inclosed by said offset and tending to seat the disk, in combinationwith a closed tank and connected water supply and discharge pipes, andan air-pipe leading to said valve within said tank, all substantially asherein specified.

3. The closed tank A, discharge-pipe A2 therefrom, an air-valve locatedat the upper portion of said tank, a controlling-valve for saiddischarge-pipe consisting of the casing B and diaphragm B", disk B',stem B2 and spring B7, in combination with the air-pipe E extendingthrough said tank to said air-valve, and the air-passages D, D and D2within said controllingsvalve casingconnccted to said airpipe and by atrapped passage with the dis charge-pipe, all substantially as hereinspecilied.

el. The closed tank A, discharge-pipe A2 therefrom, an air-valve locatedat the upper portion of said tank, a controlling-valve for saiddischarge-pipe consisting of the casing B and diaphragm B2, disk B, stemB2 and spring B7, in combination with the air-pipe El extending throughsaid tank to said airvalve, and the air-passages D, D' and D2 withinsaid controlling-valve casing, and the cup D2, trap DG and passage D4formed in one with such casing, all substantially as and for thepurposes herein specified.

5. The closed tank A, discharge-pipe A2 therefrom, an air-valve locatedat the upper portion of said tank, a controlling-valve for saiddischargepipe consisting of the casing B and diaphragm B2, disk B', stemB2 and spring BT, in combination with the air-pipe E extending throughsaid tank to said airvalve, the air-passages D, D and D2 Within saidcontrollingvalve casing, a passage with trap between the passage D2 andthe discharge-pipe, and the water-supply pipe C4, check-valve C' andpassage C2 leading to said discharge-pipe above said diaphragm, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

6. The closed tank A, discharge-pipe A2 therefrom, an air-valve locatedat the upper portion of said tank, a controlling-valve for saiddischarge-pipe consisting of the casing B, diaphragm B2, disk B', stemB2 and spring B7, in combination with the air-pipe E' eX- tendingthrough said tank to said air-valve, the air-passages D, D/ and D2Within said controlling-valve casing connected to said air-pipe, the cupD2 and trap D leading to the interior of said casing below saiddiaphragm, a passage DL from said cup to said trap, and a check-valve D5located in the latter passage, all substantially as and for the purposesherein specified.

7. The closed tank A and chamber A forming the upper portion thereof, incombination with the air-valve located within said cha1nber andconsisting of the casing E, disk E2 and its seat E, the stem E3 havingthe oset E, and swinging weight E7 engaged in said offset, thedischarge-pipe A2 for said tank, and its controlling-valve consisting ofthe casing B, diaphragm B9, disk B, stem B2 and spring B7, and means formoving the stem in opposition to said spring, the air-passages D, D andD2, cup D2, check-valve D5 and trap D" formed in the casing of saidcontrolling valve, and the air-pipe E leading from said air-passages tosaid air-valve,all substantially as and for the purposes hereinspecified.

8. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a passage leading fromthe service-pipe to the discharge-pipe, and a controlling-valve in suchpassage, in combination with an airpassage leading from the external airto the IOO interior of said discharge-passage below said above set forthI aflix my signature in prescontrolling-Valve, and a check-valve locatedence of two witnesses. f in said air-passage and performing the funo- 1T tion of preventing the escape of Water and ROBER'I F' GILLD" 5allowing the free ingress ofeir, all substau- Vit-nesses:

tiztlly as and for the purposes herein specified. HENDERSON B. HAYS,

In testimony that I claim the `invention CHARLES R. SEARLE.

